Patent GB-692337-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to electron beam tube arrangements
Inventor: MATTHEWS KENNETH ALBERT
IPC: H01J31/06
Filed: 1951-10-24
Abstract: 692,337. Automatic control systems. STAN - DARD TELEPHONES & CABLES, Ltd. Oct. 24, 1951, No. 24814/51. Class 38 (iv). [Also in Groups XXXVI, XL (a) and XL (c)] A circuit arrangement comprises an electron discharge tube in which the electron beam impinges on a target consisting of a semi-conductor having a P-N junction which is biased in the reverse direction, and means for utilizing the consequent increase in current flowing through the semi-conductor. The target may consist of a block of germanium, comprising an N-P junction, cut as shown in Fig. 3, so that only a thin layer 11 of P-type material screens the N-P junction 9. The junction is biased in the reverse sense by current source 15, and the region 11 is bombarded by electrons to produce electron-hole pairs which increase the conductivity. An alternative construction is shown in Fig. 4 in which a slot 17 is cut through the barrier so that the two portions act as independent detectors, and a differential meter 18 may be provided to indicate the relative intensity of beams applied to the two portions. Fig. 5 shows a cathode-ray distributer tube, in which the target consists of a number of semi-conductor devices 12 as shown in Fig. 3, the electrodes 13, 14 of which are soldered to a plate 23. Holes 24, 25, 26 are provided in plate 23 to allow the beam of electrons to strike the N-P junction of each device, thereby producing corresponding output pulses at terminals 34, 35, 36. The beam is arranged to sweep over the target by means of deflective source 38. The devices may be arranged in circular or parallel line formation. An alternative construction for the semi-conductor device 12 may be employed as shown in Fig. 8. The arrangement may be used in multi-channel communication systems. In a further arrangement (Fig. 9, not shown), a target comprising one semi-conductor device as shown in Fig. 4 is utilized, the beam normally being directed into the trough 17 so that no increased conductivity is produced. Each of the electrodes 13, 14 is connected to one of a pair of deflecting plates, and the arrangement is such that if the beam is displaced on to one of the portions 11 or 17, a voltage derived by means of resistances, from the bias source is used to deflect the beam back into trough 17. Input pulses can be applied to one of the deflector plates, and output pulses corresponding to either positive or negative input pulses are then obtained respectively from the terminals connected to electrodes 13 and 14. If the connections to the deflector plates are reversed, the feed-back action tends to hold the beam on the detector portion to which it has been deflected, so that the arrangement then provides a two stable-state trigger circuit. In Fig. 10, the target for an electron beam comprises a semi-conductor block having an N-P junction 55, and slots 58 divide the block into a number of separate detector units. The P-portion of each unit is connected to a point on the chain of resistances 60-65, and then through the bias battery 15 to the electrode 56 contacting the N-portions of the semi-conductor. The end terminal of the resistance chain is connected to deflector plate 45. Input pulses may be applied through condenser 49 to the deflector plate, to deflect the beam from one detector unit to the next, and the resistances 60-65 are so selected that the increase in current through the detector unit concerned results in a change in the voltage applied to deflector plate 45 which is just sufficient to hold the electron beam in its new position. The arrangement thus provides a multi-stable state trigger circuit which may be used for electronic counting.